5 TO WATCH: Short Track Events To Attend

Staring at white covered grounds, combined with shivering to the cold temperatures, there’s only one response we can all have in mind – when is race season? Thankfully, we’re less than 100 days away, if that’s any consolation, but still three months remain on the countdown.

Regardless, the schedules and events have been coming out quicker than ever, and it begs the question – where will we find you this summer, and what event are you looking forward the most?

Feel free to offer your answers in the comments, but I will give you five events to think about.

Autumn Colours Classic has been setting the bar for big events for the past 25 years, and that doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon. With a variety of divisions racing over three days on Thanksgiving weekend at Peterborough Speedway, there’s a little bit for everyone as you watch over 150 cars compete. From Pro Late Models, Limited Late Models, Super Stock, Mini Stock, Bone Stock, to Legends, OSCAAR Modifieds, OSCAAR Pro Midgets and Outlaw Midgets – everything jam-packed together makes for a great weekend.

Canadian Nationals is just an event name that catches your attention right away, and I don’t see a reason why you shouldn’t be glad it does. A big event, combined with a huge payday, and you’ve got something worthy of the name.

Jukasa Motor Speedway was a huge success last year with their grand opening, hosting a pair of events that brought the crowds and action. Now with an expanded schedule for 2018, that should just continue – with the aforementioned event at the top.

Sunday, September 2 and Monday, September 3 will see the best of the best take to Canada’s Crown Jewel in Pro Late Models, with up to $25,000 up to the grabs for the winner of the event. On top of that, the weekend kicks off with a APC Auto Parts United Late Models of Ontario Tour event on Saturday. Oh, and the super stocks will have a Canadian National event that weekend, too, with “event qualifiers” taking place at tracks throughout the 2018 season. Just mark the weekend off and have some fun, okay?

Great Lakes Concrete Series has been the talk of the off-season for both Sunset Speedway and Sauble Speedway regular attendees, and you can’t see why not. Basically, it’s a six-event series, split evenly between the pair of tracks. They’re bringing back the home-to-home format that went off a couple years ago, but with a twist – that should further help increase car count and interest.

Both tracks are now NASCAR-sanctioned, meaning the races will not only count towards the new series, but also towards NASCAR Whelen All-American Division Series points. With Eric Yorke taking the Division III Championship last year solely based on his Sunset statistics, combined with Gord Shepherd scoring a Division I top-five, and other drivers accomplishing solid rankings, this should only increase the chances of growth.

Oh, and did I mention there’s a hefty payout if you walk away as the six-race series champion? Yeah, the breakdown is worth checking out because you’ll understand why they’ll be hard racing from the drop of the green flag to the checkered. There’s always been some big names to commit to the series across all three divisions involved.

If you’re wondering on the dates – Sauble Speedway is set for July 1, July 12, and August 5. Meanwhile, Sunset Speedway has May 20, August 25, and September 22/23.

Spring Velocity at Sunset Speedway is always circled on a lot of fan’s calendars because it is the first big event of the year. The re-vamp for this year’s event just means that the circle should grow in size.

Just for starters – the previously mentioned Great Lakes Concrete Series takes part on day two of the weekend. From there, here you go..

Saturday, May 19 will see the APC Auto Parts United Late Models of Ontario Tour season-opener become part of the big show, alongside the T.Q. Can-Am Midgets, Outlaw Midgets and OSCAAR Hot Rods each running heats and features. Oh, and you’ll get a sample of the OSCAAR Modifieds as they qualify for Sunday.

Sunday, May 20 sees the Limited Late Models, Super Stocks and Mini Stocks as part of the previously mentioned series run their full show, with heats and features for the Legends, Bone Stocks, and OSCAAR Hot Rods. And then, yes, the modifieds will run their feature this day, too.

Are you prepared for the pits to be full and your entertainment value to be fulfilled?

“STOCK” Car Nationals should be something to catch your attention, and may hopefully bring an influx of mid-season competition to the Hamilton, Ontario area. Flamboro Speedway is known for Frostoberfest at the end of race season, but is now set to expand the kitty with a mid-season invitational. With Super Stocks, Mini Stocks and Pure Stocks on deck for a pair of events, how can you go wrong?

Did I mention that the mini stocks will have over $6800 up for grabs? When the event was originally announced, Rich Schwartzenburg began collecting donations from fans, drivers, and companies, in the form of prizes and lap sponsors to increase the original projected pot. With $1000 going to the race winner, and a guaranteed $100 as long as you start, where can you go wrong?